Ranging from sophisticated to totes adorbs, the ten projects in this book have something for every Beatrix Potter fan (including a version of an 1863 wedding quilt, a Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle iron cover, and a wool felt ball for children). Step-by-step instructions and detailed photographs help novices and experienced folks alike. The charming book also includes a short biography of Potter, templates, and tips for machine applique, binding, and hand embroidery.

This is not your typical cookbook. Yes, it includes recipes, but it's more like a (fantastic) cooking course in a book. Using an approach she's perfected over the years, acclaimed chef Samin Nosrat explains four basic elements -- salt, fat, acid, and heat -- that will cut your apron strings to recipes. Complemented by lovely watercolor art, Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat just might be to cookbook of the year. Want more books about cooking science? Try J. Kenji López-Alt's The Food Lab, Harold McGee's On Food and Cooking, and various Cook's Illustrated guides.

If you've ever grown too much zucchini and not enough tomatoes and wondered how to store food for the winter, this book is for you. Experienced gardener Barbara Pleasant explains how (and how much) to grow in order to stock a pantry year-round. Providing growing information about a wide-variety of vegetables, fruits, and herbs, she also explains canning, drying, freezing, cold storage, and fermenting. Chock full of detailed instructions and lovely photographs, this book will especially appeal to those who crave self-sufficiency.

Sharing memories of growing up in Bangkok as well as some of the city's food history, Leela Punyaratabandhu grounds readers in what makes this city so special -- and then she provides 120 authentic recipes that will transport your taste buds there. Featuring Hot and Sour Fish Soup, Steamed Dumplings with Chicken-Peanut Filling, Fried Bananas, Coconut Rice Pudding Cakes, and more, the book also has notes on how to make ingredients or where to find them and is accompanied by gorgeous photographs of the dishes and the city itself.

While it's true that birdhouses make fun craft projects and cute garden decorations, this well-researched book favors function over fashion. Here, anyone can learn how to construct and place specialized birdhouses for over 20 North American species of birds, including waterfowl and raptors. The birdhouse designs cover all skill levels, and each includes easy-to-follow blueprints, cut lists, and photographic instructions. This appealing, practical guide offers all the clarity of Popular Woodworking's Birdhouses You Can Build in a Day, but with the scientific, bird-centered perspective you'd expect from the National Audubon Society.

In this wide-ranging volume, carpenter Spike Carlsen shares his expertise in crafting sustainable, DIY outdoor structures. Experienced builders can jump right in to projects like the Two-Wheel Cart or the Top Bar Beehive, while beginners may want to start with the Flowerpot Smoker or the Lawn Bag Stand until they feel more comfortable with the required tools and skills, all of which are described in accessible terms. Visual learners will especially appreciate the exploded diagrams of each project. Whether you're a dedicated homesteader or just looking for eco-friendly backyard projects, you'll be well served by The Backyard Homestead Book of Building Projects.

While some try to keep wildlife out of their gardens, author April Pulley Sayre suggests that families with kids should do the opposite. Taking a bit-by-bit approach to creating an appealing garden habitat for animals (such as birds, butterflies, bees, deer, and more), Sayre offers hands-on activities that kids can achieve, like observing which animals already live nearby, and then experimenting with plants, water, and shelter to see what entices those animals most. Bursting with fascinating eco-facts and savvy tips for encouraging kids to go outdoors, Touch a Butterfly is a great pick for families wanting to get into nature.

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